Question about Windows Recovery Images

[ChoTai]

I was wondering something. If I create a recovery image of my PC's current state, and move all of the image files to another hard disk, would I still be able to use that image to recover my PC or would it have to be on the disk that the image was created on.

Thank You

 

[mickey megabyte]

hi Chotai and welcome to sevenforums,

it makes very good sense to keep recovery images on a different disk - what happens if the disk dies? you can't recover it.

what software are you using to make your images? when you restore, you should be able to browse to different drives to select the recovery image.

 

[ChoTai]

I'm just using Windows' built in recovery manager.

 

[mickey megabyte]

ah, in that case, sorry, i don't think you can safely move the image files, because windows may not be able to find them again if needed.

i would recommend using a third-party imaging solution such as the free macrium reflect - it's got a few more options, and allows you to save image files wherever you like, even on your network (if you have one).

...or make a new system image, and make sure you have another drive connected (either internal or external) while you are doing it, and save the image there.

 

[mjf]

I was wondering something. If I create a recovery image of my PC's current state, and move all of the image files to another hard disk, would I still be able to use that image to recover my PC or would it have to be on the disk that the image was created on.

Thank You

I would try moving one image - the complete image folder. Now since you are moving across partition boundaries it is a physical move - it will take some time.
As long as all the key files within the folder remain in tact (eg. MediaID etc) I see no reason why could not browse to the new location with windows image restore. It must, like any other image, be named WindowsImageBackup and located in a partition root. Of course it must be a valid image in the first place.
I have never actually done a physical move and restore for Windows images.

Moves and renames within partition boundaries are "instant" being directory changes - do it as much as you like. I do this all the time

With Macrium .mrimg the same applies. They do not have the constraint of root location. I'm not sure what the xml files would think about it.
I have never actually done a physical move and restore for Macrium images.